#This video was honestly so bloody funny

[little-candy-store-of-horrors]

"Did you enjoy the Hitler Youth?"

"Not very much. I was a mummy's boy. I used to cry a lot."

"Did they bully you?"

"Constantly. It was because I wore glasses. They used to call me 'Four-Eyes'." (x)

[moeblob]

Pen doodles from yesterday and then digital for today

Katale and Rudyard but as little crime babies. Since he's known her for a while and just thought she looked like a little street thug despite being higher ranking than him in the crime organization at first, the cat-ear hairstyle was just A Thing for her. And it spawned the nickname he would use in private of "Kitty" and even when she grows her hair out and he grays even more he still calls her Kitty in private. They're literally just bffs who do crime and what more can you want of them??

[golbrocklovely]

soulmates? // sam golbach

A/N: here's my first fic of 13 nights!! i've had this idea for so long, and i'm happy to finally make it into a fic. i really love a good enemies to lovers, and if you do, hopefully you'll like this one. let me know what you think and please enjoy !

prompt: fans knew you and sam bickered a lot, but what they didn't know is how much you truly hated one another. you decide to prank sam with a fake tarot reading, but end up finding out secrets about him and yourself. || sam golbach x fem!reader

trigger warning: angst, name calling, enemies-to-lovers, tarot/physic, cursing, semi fluffy ending?

word count: 3429

~~~~~~~~~~

I waved at the camera, beginning my intro, "Hey yall, welcome back to my channel. Today, I'm gonna be pulling a little prank on Sam with the help of someone very special."

"Hi guys!" Colby grinned.

"Thank you so much for being on my channel today, Colby." I glanced over at him, copying his smile.

He nodded, "Of course. Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"So today, I decided I'm gonna prank Sam, in a very unusual way." I stared mischievously into the camera, "I hired a psychic and she's gonna read our futures. That's what Sam thinks this video is gonna be about. But the catch is that she's gonna make it seem like me and Sam are destined to be together."

Colby chuckled, "Oh my God, that sounds so funny."

"I hope she goes all out. I'm talking 'you two are soulmates, you need to get together now', things like that. Just to really nail home that we are supposed to be together." And as you guys know, especially if you've watched me before, me and Sam don't exactly always get along.

“You guys do fight like an old married couple though.” He snickered.

“Of course you would know that feeling, Colby. You guys are basically already married.” I sassed.

"He really is my husband. But I’ll gladly share him with you.” He teased.

I playfully swatted at him, "Anyway, I wonder what Sam's reaction is gonna be to all of this."

"Fingers crossed he runs out of the psychic's place screaming bloody murder." Colby joked.

"Jesus, that would be dramatic." I mumbled more to myself than the camera, "I'm not that terrible."

"I don't think that way, but you know Sam does." He mentioned.

I lowered the camera, glaring at him for a second. "Colby, I can't keep that in the video."

“Well, cut those parts out." He suggested.

"Fine." I cleared my throat, pulling the camera back up, "Wow, that would be kinda crazy to see. Alright, now we wait for Sam to come, and I'll catch you guys up when he gets here."

"Do you honestly think this is a good idea?" Colby questioned, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Oh, it's probably a horrible idea. And Sam is gonna be deeply annoyed with me for a while, since we all swore off pranks. But I don't care. Last week he pissed me off at Sarah's party and this is his pay back." I huffed.

"I wonder how he's gonna actually react to this. He's never had his love reading done before." He stated, looking at the cars passing by.

I shrugged, "Neither have I. But knowing him he's gonna go down the route of 'none of this is real, she's lying' and then he'll find out it's a prank and laugh for the camera, but yell at me afterwards."

"You two love to fight and argue, that's for sure." He jested, smirking devilishly.

"What can I say? He knows how to get under my skin in just the right way. So I have to reciprocate it back." I replied, glancing at the street, waiting to see Sam's car pull up. He was running late.

"Why do you let him upset you so much, if you don't mind me asking?" Colby pushed lightly, his voice low.

"When I first collabed with you guys, I wanted to make a good first impression. And when we investigated, it seemed like Sam really liked me. Or at least tolerated me and respected me." I narrowed my eyes at the memory, sucking my teeth, "But to hear him badmouth me later directly to one of my friends while he was at a party drunk, it just became clear to me that he was fake. Or at least... around me he was."

He shook his head, "Sam's never been like that before. I don't know why he would do that to you."

"Well, all I know is that he thinks I'm arrogant and loud and that I act like I'm better than everyone. Which is fucking hysterical given the fact I hate myself." I deadpanned.

Colby's expression softened. "Don't say that."

I glanced at him quickly, "Sorry, I don't really hate myself that much, but you get what I mean. Well, jokes on him. Your fans love me, and have asked me back twice at this point."

He snorted. "You have no idea how much it pains him to hear the fans love you. It's honestly really fucking funny."

"If it continues to piss him off, then I'm glad." I jeered.

He pointed at the car behind us, peaking into the rearview mirror, "Speak of the devil..."

I unbuckled my seatbelt, slowly getting out of my car. I glared at his Tesla, stupid fucking car, and trudged over to him. Colby walked up to him, giving him a quick hug.

His car had a light sheen on it, clearly wet from a wash. "Was it really necessary to get your car detailed before my video?"

"Of course it was. Anything to delay this, the better." Sam replied, smiling.

"God, I regret asking you to be in the video. I should have just got Colby." I grunted.

Sam pulled open his car door, "I could leave right now. Trust me, I wouldn't mind."

"No. I want you here, just so I can continue to torture you." He rolled his eyes at me, shutting his door and alarming his car. I continued, "Hey, maybe the psychic can tell us how far up the stick is in your ass."

He feigned a grin, walking to me. "Maybe she can tell us why you constantly have a shit dating life."

"Well, you would know that very well, wouldn't you? Mister Unable-to-Commit." I sneered, stepping towards him.

Colby stood between us, "Children, please. Can we stop fighting and just film the intro with all three of us? We are gonna miss our appointment with the psychic."

"Fine. You ready?" I watched both boys nod, Sam rolling his eyes at me. I glared, turning my camera on, pausing, and then starting the fake intro. "Hey guys, today I'm here with Sam and Colby!"

The boys cheered, jumping around and acting like fools for a moment. Sam stepped towards me, yelling almost in my face. I did my best to not react, to only keep smiling.

"Wow, what an intro." I faked a laugh, trying to ignore the ringing in my ears. "So today we are at a psychic tarot reader and we are gonna get our fortunes read. Have you guys ever had that done before?"

"Yes, and boy did it tell us some bad things." Colby answered, smirking.

It hit me suddenly, one of Colby's past readings. I gasped, "Oh my God, I forgot about that!"

Sam chimed in, "Fake fan."

"Well, let's hope for some better futures then. Let's go!" I pointed at the door of the building, then turned the camera off. I smacked Sam's arm, a wince falling from his lips. "Did you really need to fucking say that? Or scream in my ear for that matter."

"What? It was just a joke." He rubbed his arm, his eyes intense, "Don't get your panties in a twist."

I crossed my arms, “I’ll make sure to send the bill from my otolaryngologist to you.”

“Don’t make up words, now.” He mocked.

I quipped, "That’s a real word, dumbass. God you are such a jerk, you know that?"

"A jerk?" He covered his heart, pretending to be wounded. "How will I ever sleep at night?"

I went to step to him, but Colby got in the way. "Don't. He's just fucking with you. Don't let him piss you off." Sam turned and walked inside. Colby lowered his voice, "Besides, you'll be getting him back soon enough."

"I know. This psychic better bring her A game." I grumbled.

We stepped inside, the scent of palo santo hitting me immediately. I felt a cozy feeling flood through me; the walls a lush deep purple velvet, the furniture in earthy and jewel tone colors. There were little trinkets and witchy things all around, some of which you could buy. I walked over to the crystal display, picking up a piece of amethyst.

"Do you honestly think crystals work?" Sam asked.

I hummed, "I'm not sure. But I like the pretty colors."

"Of course you do." He murmured.

My shoulders dropped as I spun to face him, "Have you ever considered not being mean to me?"

"I'm not being mean!" He whisper-yelled. "I'm just saying that you give off the vibe of someone that likes pretty things, including crystals."

"Oh... thanks, I guess." I looked him over, confused and annoyed. "You could have worded it differently, you know."

"Well, if you stopped assuming everything I say to you is me trying to be a dick, maybe we wouldn't be in this situation." He argued.

I place my hands on my hips, “Well if you would stop being a dick to me, I wouldn't think you're trying to always be mean."

He furrowed his brow, "Are you really still upset about-"

"Of course I am." I hissed.

He rolled his eyes, "You're sensitive."

"And you're a prick." I spat.

"Hello! Sorry for coming out a bit late. Was just finishing up my lunch. You guys must be," The psychic looked down at her paper, reading our names. "Colby, Y/N, and Samantha."

"Sam. It's Sam." He corrected.

She gazed down at the paper for a second, frowning. "Oh, my apologies. Must have been written out wrong."

"Must have..." He glared at me, and I smiled sweetly.

Colby politely stuck out his hand, "Thank you for having us. It's a pleasure to meet you..."

"Agatha Cerrony. But you can just call me Aggie," she giggled, shaking his hand. “Okay, so do you want to set up your camera, or how do you guys do it?"

"I was thinking one of us goes at a time, perhaps, and whoever isn't going will film. If that's okay with you?" I inquired, pulling out my camera.

"Of course. Whatever works for you. I will say though, I do recommend that anything too personal shouldn't be filmed, or posted, at the very least." She remarked.

"Yeah, I plan to condense all of our readings down into just some small little bites of info that fans will like to know and that we feel comfortable sharing." I explained, trying to sound serious enough so Sam wouldn't be too suspicious.

"Okay then, who wants to go first?" She asked, looking at all of us.

Colby raised his hand. She grinned excitedly, pointing him to one of the velvet stools in front of her desk. She went around, sat on the other side, and grabbed her tarot deck.

His reading went on for 20 minutes, going through multiple topics like his love life, his relationship with himself and his family, and what the future held for him and his career. I assumed that this part of the reading was true, given how easy going she was saying all of this. And since none of it sounded over the top or dramatic, it seemed pretty realistic.

Then it was Sam's turn. As Colby got up, he gave me a small wink. I choked back a giggle, keeping my face as stone cold as I could. The psychic shuffled the deck quickly, asking him what he wanted to talk about first.

"My career, please." Sam stated.

I rolled my eyes behind the camera, of course that's what he wants to talk about.

She placed three cards down, explaining that the next couple months were going to be full of success, much like Colby's reading. "However, there might be a hiccup in the future, so be cautious of new advisors or managers coming into play." Also, some of their biggest success was just a couple months down the line if they continued down this great path.

"So, keep a clear mind and focus," she reiterated. "What next?"

"How about your love life, Sam?" Colby suggested.

I beamed, "Yeah, that would be so cool to hear about."

Sam sighed, "Ehh, I don't really care-"

"Come on, Sam. Aren't you the least bit curious? You haven't had a gf in almost a year. That's almost unheard of for you." I jested.

He narrowed his eyes at me, "Thanks, Y/N."

Colby smirked. "Look I got mine read, and she's gonna get hers. Do yours."

Sam turned back to the psychic, shrugging nonchalantly. "Fine. Tell me about my future girlfriend. Or love life..."

Aggie nodded, shuffling the deck quickly. I grinned over at Colby, zooming in on the cards she pulled from the deck. "Well, these cards are telling me that while you have been single for a bit, you do seem to have feelings for someone, even if you don't like admitting to it."

Colby audibly gasped, "Wait what?"

"Oh... that's," Sam cleared his throat, "um, interesting."

"It feels like you hold yourself back a bit when it comes to this person." She placed a couple more cards down, pointing at the first one, "This card shows that while you do have feelings, you also are upset with this person. Or maybe, it's more of a back and forth with them. Sometimes you love them, sometimes you hate them. They frustrate you, but you also enjoy that frustration."

"Sounds like someone we know..." Colby whispered to me.

"Do you know who I could be talking about? Is there someone in your mind?" She queried.

Sam squirmed in his seat, shaking his head. "Um, n-no. I don't think so."

She squinted at him for a moment, "Okay..." Aggie pulled more cards from the top, nodding her head at them. "Oh, see. This explains some stuff to me."

His back stiffened, "What do they say?"

"So, you and this person go way back. And I mean, beyond this life. You guys knew each other eons ago. And there is some unresolved tension from a past life that has caused you guys to butt heads all the time." She answered, pointing at the cards.

He blinked. "The cards say all of that?"

She chuckled lightly, "Well, yes and no. I am also a psychic so I'm tapping into my spirit guides to help me explain some of the cards more."

Colby nudged Sam, "Dude, you've been crushing on someone? Why haven't you told me? Do I know her?"

Sam pffted, "I wouldn't say a crush-"

Aggie shuffled the cards again, placing three more down. "You both know her. She's someone you met recently, probably within the last couple months. A very strong energy comes from her, which is why sometimes you butt heads. She meets you with the same energy you give."

"Recently met... strong energy... that sounds like you, Y/N." Colby commented.

"What?! Don't say that." Sam exclaimed.

I faked a glare at Colby, "Yeah, don't start Colby."

Aggie collected all of the cards, "If you want, I can see if you guys have a connection."

Sam inhaled sharply, "I don't know."

"It would be good for the video." I whispered to him.

"You're not posting this unless it says we aren't a match." He scowled.

"Alright, relax Sam. I'm not gonna post it." I gave the camera to Colby, winking. I sat down next to Sam, watching him as he scooched his chair away from me.

Aggie shuffled, placing some cards down. "Oh, well that's interesting."

"What's that?" I asked.

"Well I did pull the Lovers card, but it's in reverse." She replied.

Sam questioned, his voice cold. "What's that mean?"

"There seems to be some form of an imbalance between you two. Something that should be talked about. And these cards right here," she pointed to the others, "show that there should be harmony between you two. Because if there was, you would be together. Whether as friends or more, depending on your choice. But there is something keeping this distance and frustration between you two."

"Wow, that's crazy." I pushed for more ‘answers’, loving the way Sam's face contorted in anger. "Am I the one he has a past life with?"

"Really, Y/N?" Sam whined.

"What? Relax, I highly doubt-" I started.

Aggie interrupted, placing another card down, "Yes. You two definitely knew each other in a past life. I personally believe you used to be husband and wife, just from what my spirit guides are telling me."

"I-I'm... What?" Sam stuttered.

"I think there is a lot of unresolved communication between you two, as appearing in this card." She held the card up, showing it towards the camera. "Now obviously, I don't know for certain what's going on inside your head, but if you want to fix things between you two, and I suggest you do, you have to talk to one another. Because from what I can see, you two would work well with one another. Possibly soulmates, if you believe in something like that. But only if you listen."

Sam stood up instantly. "Okay, I think I'm done with my reading."

"Aw, you scared we're soulmates?" I taunted.

"Don't you want to get your cards read? It's late." He retorted, his eyes not meeting mine.

"Well, since your love reading turned into my love reading, I guess I'll ask about my future or whatever." I shrugged happily.

Aggie shuffled the cards as I asked about my career and future friendships. I barely paid attention, figuring the video was already done anyway. I honestly deserve an Oscar for the way I was able to hold back my laughs. God, the look on Sam's face was priceless. He looked so pissed but also weirdly nervous.

Can't wait to make it the thumbnail.

"Is there anything else you would like to ask?" She questioned, collecting her cards.

"No, I think I'm all good here." I turned to Colby, smiling at the camera. "How about we'll regroup outside and talk about what went down then?"

Colby nodded, turning the camera off. "Sounds good to me."

Sam said nothing, walking over to the waiting room chairs with Colby. As they grew closer to each other, Sam spoke in hushed tones to him.

I turned back to Aggie, shaking her hand softly. "Hey, thank you so much for letting us film here. I really appreciate it. That whole bit about Sam and I being soulmates was really good."

She raised an eyebrow at me, "Bit? I'm not sure what you mean by that."

"Also, I know this is probably really weird to ask, but on the phone, you had a thick accent of some sort..." I explained, a bit confused, "It almost sounded French to me? Are you from there or-?"

"Oh! You must have been talking with Madeline," she laughed. "She's the owner of this place, I'm just one of her friends who does readings from time to time."

I hesitated, her words sinking in. "Um... wasn't she the one that was supposed to do the reading?"

"Yeah, did she forget to call you? She's sick, out with a cold," Aggie mentioned. "But I figured she wouldn't mind me doing your reading anyway. We've both been practicing tarot readers for 20 years."

"Uh.. Uh, did she tell you about what I wanted this reading to be about?" I stammered.

"Unfortunately she didn't write that out in her schedule, but you asked me during your session. Was there anything in particular you needed me to read for you? I can do another session real quick before the next group comes in." She suggested.

"No, no that's fine. Um, I-I..." I exhaled deeply, trying to calm myself. "So everything you just told me, about me and Sam and how in past lives we were together and that we would actually work out really well if we dated... that was all true?"

"That's what the cards said, yes. Along with my own personal psychic feelings," she admitted. "If you want I can give you some more resources and you can look the cards up on your own if you need some further explanation."

"Thank you, I appreciate that." I mumbled, barely listening to what she said.

As she gathered up some papers, jotting down some books for me to check out, I glanced over at Sam. He was still talking to Colby, but looking at me. His face was hard to read, but his eyes had this softness in them I hadn't ever seen before.

My heart skipped a beat as we locked eyes.

[giuseppe-yuki]

i was thinking about arthur leclerc with a monkey shapeshifter au and since charles is scared of monkeys it makes it 10 times funnier when arthur and her go to prank charles

i actually was not aware that charles was scared of monkeys! i did a quick google search and find an ancient video of him running away from a monkey in bali or something so i assume that's what you're talking about 😅

arthur is probably as much as a prankster as carlos is, and makes charles' life a living hell when he's around.

this is most likely what happens on a weekly basis:

picture credits from pinterest :)

"and you want me to just jump into the room?" you question your boyfriend, who is rubbing his hands together and giggles mischievously.

at least once a week, arthur would put you up to another egregious prank on his brother that left charles fearing for his life.

"yes! yes!" he exclaims in his thick monegasque accent. "just chase him around the room. it'll be so funny!"

you roll your eyes as arthur strategically places what looks like a big yellow piece of cloth next to charles' streaming setup.

"charlie will never see this coming!" he cackles. "now, we wait!"

arthur holds you like a baby, your long limbs wrapping around his muscled body. you had shifted into your monkey form beforehand, after going over the plan with arthur. you would head into charles' streaming room, jump on him, scare the everliving shit out of him, and run out.

your boyfriend gently sets you in front of the the white painted door, giving your head a few pets of encouragment.

charles' voice drifts out underneath the door. "oh my god! i've never looked so good."

arthur's eyes light up with excitement at these words. "go now, baby," he says, opening the door for you.

you crawl into the room, and to your surprise, charles sits in front of his large monitor and camera dressed as none other than your favorite food, a banana.

his chat blows up with comments, prompting him to glance back behind him.

he acts faster that you can react, leaping out of his chair and letting out a shrill scream. hands grasping at the nearest solid object, he snatches a heavy metal water bottle off of his desk. he chucks it directly at you, but you dodge it by mere inches. (you thank the gods that his aiming skills is not as good as his driving skills) after taking shelter behind his chair, he shouts for his girlfriend, panicking over the fact that there was currently a 'wild animal' in his streaming room.

it was a ridiculous scene, honestly. you were stood there, not moved an inch from your original spot while charles screamed bloody murder dressed as a banana and occasionally threw random objects at you.

it took him a moment before he connected the dots.

"wait a minute- you're-" he stutters out, stepping away from his streaming chair. he hesitantly shuffles towards you, banana suit limiting his movements. you see the moment recognition fills his eyes.

"ARTHUR LECLERC, I SWEAR TO GOD! I KNEW YOU WERE BEHIND THIS. FUCK YOU! I AM TELLING MAMAN!"

[pernesophe]

"Fuckboy" Narumi Gen x Scientist Reader

(Minors, Ageless and Blank Blogs DNI)

Synopsis: You're a scientist in the 1st division, and Narumi has been making passes at you ever since you started working there. Every time you've brushed him off - writing him off as a fuckboy just trying to bed you. What happens when he almost dies during a mission and you're left quarreling with feelings you didn't even know you had for the 1st Division Captain? WC: 3572 MDNI. TW: f reader, angst, fluff, smut - dacryphilia, oral (f receiving), vaginal penetration, needy sex

Reader’s Scent: Soft Tension by Andrea Maack Narumi’s Scent: Cuir Ottoman by Parfum d'Empire

He’s not there. That’s the first horrible thought that entered your brain as the screen cleared of smoke to reveal the spot where Narumi should have been standing. The spot where he always was, you knew better than anyone that the Captain of the 1st Division never failed to find the camera. As more of the gray wisps and dust cleared away, your breath hitched in your throat to form a suffocatingly solid lump. The clock’s seconds were ticking by at an impossible speed. All around you the control room erupted into panic - everyone screaming, running, some were crying - while all you could do was just stand there. Completely numb. 

Narumi was cocky. Arrogant. Insufferable. And undoubtedly strong. He was confident in his abilities, because he always pulled through somehow. Despite the constant glares you shoot his way, his constant requests to ‘take you out’, and the endless eyerolls you’ve returned - you never, ever doubted that he would come back from a mission. He always did.

The bright red numbers on the clock blinked 60 seconds now, and you still haven’t drawn a single breath - your heart pounded painfully against your sternum as you desperately searched the screen for any sign of him. The video game obsessed man you deemed to be a ‘fuckboy’ long ago - someone you wrote off as just wanting to bag the ‘hot scientist’. But the only memories that surfaced in this moment were how his eyes turned puppy dog like at your rare praises, or his tireless smile whenever he saw you. Always for you.

Minato, the coworker seated to your left, was shouting desperately into the mic, but you couldn’t make out what he was saying. Emi, the coworker to your right was gently shaking your arm - attempting to cajole a response from you. The screen blurred from hot tears as a sickeningly hollow feeling formed in your chest. Through your watery vision you could make out that 120 seconds had passed, trapped in this excruciating stasis.

Everything began to slow around the lab, the sounds distorted, black clouded the edges of your vision - all you could see were the seconds ticking higher and higher. Once the bright, bloody numbers reached 165 seconds you heard the faintest whine through the radio, and finally your lungs expanded. You drew in air so loudly it made your companions jump as you lunged for the mic in Minato’s grasp.

”Narumi!” Shouting urgently into the hard, mesh plastic that your coworker basically tossed your way. “Narumi this isn’t fucking funny! Respond. Now!” Voice straining as it tore through your throat, tears finally cascaded hot, wet streams down your cheeks dripping onto the keys below. An excruciatingly long pause ensued with nothing but the crackle of static over the radio. Inhaling a breath that absolutely burned followed by the faintest of pleas, “Narumi, please answer me…”

Suddenly, a cough came through the radio, followed by a low groan, and then his voice, “I’m alive.” Every muscle in your body sagged with relief as you collapsed back into your chair, sniffling quietly. That was all he said, and honestly you couldn’t blame him - by the looks of the screen there were a lot of casualties.

When his unit returned to base, hours later, he didn’t go to the infirmary. He didn’t stop to see anyone - just went straight to his room and locked himself inside. You asked Shinomiya about it, but she just said it was ‘really bad’ with a distant look in her eyes before heading to the barracks. So, you waited a couple more hours to see if he would come out on his own, but when he didn’t you ventured to his room.

The second you rapped on the door, Narumi’s authoritative ‘not now’ echoed under the crack, but when you called softly that it was you there was a resounding click before the wood swayed inward slightly. Beyond the knob turning and the door being left ajar he didn’t invite you in, but you took it as one anyway before quietly stepping through the tall entryway. With the pads of your fingertips you pushed the hard wood flush into the jam.

The Captain’s quarters were shadowy, the monitor switched off with only a small lamp on in the corner, and his worn form slumped on the couch with a blanket barely wrapped around his shoulders. He didn’t turn to look at you, or speak as you picked your way through his room until you stood in front of him. Still, he refused to meet your eye. 

Deliberately, with all the caution of approaching a wild animal, you slowly placed one knee on the outside of his thigh. Only then did Narumi peer up at you with a perplexed expression as you continued to straddle him, then lowered yourself until you were completely sitting on his lap. Sighing deeply, he turned his head away from you fully while pinching the bridge of his nose.

”I know this may come as a surprise, but if you’re finally reciprocating my advances then I’m sorry to say - I’m not in the mood,” he sighed, annoyance reverberating in his low timbre. Instead of mustering a defense, you leaned fully against his chest, wrapping your arms around him before burying your face into his neck - utterly wracked with sobs. Narumi froze, hints of musky freesia fused with mossy cedarwood lifted from your hair and skin to envelop him completely while your tears soaked into his t-shirt. At first he hesitated - not daring to move a muscle - and then ever so slowly, he brought his hands to rest on your hips while you clutched onto him tighter.

”When I saw you weren’t there, on the screen, I was so worried…” your words trailed off into a sharp inhale - immediately submerging you in the scent of leather dipped in resinous amber that persistently clung to him. Then, you sniffled out pathetically, “you’re always there.” Your lips trembled around the words as Narumi’s heart hammered wildly from your ensuing confession. 

“I thought you-” bawling through shuddered breaths, but you choked out what you could, “and that I’d never see you again…” Finally leaning back, you regarded his expression - amaranth eyes blinking rapidly at you, framed by brows raised in utter shock. No one has ever cried over him like this. 

“I-I know you were the one who almost died, but for 3 solid minutes I couldn’t catch my breath, an-and-” you choked on another sob. Drawing another shaky breath before you tried to speak again. “Narumi, I-I don’t know what I would do if you weren’t here,” fisting your hands into his shirt as the words warbled past your lips.

At first he could do nothing more than squeeze your hips lightly, all other responses escaped him. Instead he studied your expression intently. The way the red around your eyes made your irises gleam in the lowlight, or how your cheeks had become puffy, ruddy and glistened whenever your head bobbed with a sniffle. A deeper red crawled over your cheeks - turning shy under his awestruck gaze. Then, ghosting his hands from your hips, over your arms, to cup your cheeks before he pulled you close to press his lips tenderly to yours.

Ardently he moved his mouth in tandem with yours, the faintest hints of rosy-fruit swirled mossy cedar clung to your breath like a silent fog rolling off the mountains - dragging Narumi deeper into the essence that is you. As he carded his fingers through your hair just to pull you closer, the barest notes of creamy almond and balsam incense mingled with your breath, deliciously stimulating your taste buds. Like the mouth watering aromas one would find strolling through a foreign market. Then, following your soft whimper for air, Narumi gently released you, one hand remained cupping your cheek while the other drifted back down to rest on your hip.

“I thou-thought you weren’t in the mood,” you sniffled out quietly, gently leaning into his palm, fingers twitching nervously in his shirt.

”I changed my mind,” he whispered, gravelly and low, before tugging you back by the back of your neck to slot his lips with yours once again. 

This time the kiss was heated, his teeth nipping your bottom lip followed by his tongue gliding smoothly along yours when you gasped. Robust honey-musk cascaded over your taste buds as he desperately deepened the kiss to chase your sweet, strawberry-pine redolence. The next few minutes were a flurry of hands gripping fabric, bare skin, tongues and lips colliding until Narumi had you laid out on the couch under him, completely nude.

Sitting on folded legs, poised between your thighs, his wide palms ghosted up the sides of your torso until he cupped your face once again. Studying your flushed cheeks with rapt interest - the way tears still leaked from your lash line to trickle down your face, though he didn’t mention them, he did thumb at them appreciatively without making any real attempt to wipe them away. Bending forward to capture your lips once more, he laid fully between your legs - purposefully pressing his growing bulge to your heated core.

The cotton fabric of his boxers dragged deliciously over your clit as he peppered kisses over your jaw, down the column of your throat, over your collarbones and down the valley of your breasts until he paused between your hips. Glancing upward, he waited for your subtle nod before traveling lower to litter chaste pecks over the insides of your thighs - inhaling your scent as he dragged the tip of his nose over your soft skin. Two wide, hot hands palmed and squeezed the plush fat of your upper thighs, and under the curve of your butt appreciatively while kissing and nipping closer to where you wanted him most.

A pair of crimson-mauve eyes pinned you in place as his lips ghosted over your folds, hot breath fanning your sensitive skin sending shivers through you. Ever so gently, Narumi gripped the insides of your thighs - bringing his thumbs down to part your lips - his eyes flicked down the moment your drooling core was revealed to him. Meeting your gaze once more, stealing the air right out of your lungs, then he finally made contact - dipping the tip of his wet muscle into your leaking hole. Gathering arousal along the way, his eyes grew half lidded before he started swirling the tip of his tongue around your buzzing bundle of nerves.

Immediately your head fell back into the couch cushions, a gasping whine fluttered past your lips - the tears that had collected along your lash line finally poured over, splashing into your hair and onto the worn fabric below. The second Narumi spotted the salty rivulets, his ministrations grew desperate - tongue dipping down to plunge through your fluttering entrance, flicking and curling along your velvety walls. Latching his mouth fully onto your thrumming cunt, his grip on your thighs turned bruising as he leaned further into you - grunting deliriously as your creamy, velvety musk burst across his taste buds. Mewling pathetically from the added vibrations, you threw one hand over your head to grab the arm of the couch for some sense of grounding as your other hand carded through Narumi’s two toned locks. 

“Gen-” he moaned straight into your core from his name rolling off your tongue - eliciting a warbled whine from you as your grip tightened in his hair. “I don’t-” emitting a string of strained pants, as you attempted to stave off your ensuing orgasm. “I don’t think I can last any longer, fuck, please-” the plea barely left you before Narumi replaced his tongue with two fingers, moving his lips to wrap around your clit. His other hand slid to the outside of your thigh to hold you securely while your other leg involuntarily snapped shut to keep him in place. Pumping at an even pace from the start, his fingertips bumped and prodded that spongy spot that had your back arching off the couch and thighs trembling against his cheeks.

Then, with a curl of his fingers and a flick of his tongue, your gummy walls clamped down - pulsing around his digits. Stars burst behind your eyes as blissful heat simmered in your veins, sending pleasurable tingles through your body until your toes began to curl. Stilted, whiny moans cascaded from you, echoing off the walls to create a symphony that Narumi had only imagined until now. With a gasp, taut muscles finally relaxed, your body sagged against the cushions - chest rising and falling rapidly from heaving to catch your breath. 

Gradually Narumi detached from you, sitting back on his folded legs, he absentmindedly licked your arousal from his digits - surveying your flushed face, puffy lips, and the way some shiny tears still clung to your lashes. To his surprise, after a moment you cracked your eyes open to throw him a pleading look as you sat up as well - reaching out to curl your fingers into the waistband of his boxers.

“I want you,” you murmured, voice and face lacking any hesitation as you peered up at him through thick lashes. When he hesitated, blinking rapidly while trying to process your words you added earnestly, “I need you.” 

That’s all he needed to hear before he discarded his boxers and lined his blushing tip up to your entrance. Ardently, he pressed through that ring of muscle that gave way to your velvety walls, stretching you inch by inch. With a muted groan in your ear, he bottomed out completely - your core fluttering around him as you grew accustomed to his size. One of his lithe arms looped around your lower back while the other laid above your head as he tenderly fingered your satiny locks. 

Once you had adjusted, he canted his hips back at an agonizingly unhurried pace while tears collected along your lash line from sheer want. With an equally paced thrust he ever so slowly pressed back in until his tip nudged that spongy spot that drew wanton sounds to the tip of your tongue. Sinking your teeth into your lower lip, you attempted to contain your mewls as even more salty droplets rolled down your cheeks. Narumi was mesmerized by them, his pace remaining deep and steady while his gaze traveled from the notch in your brow to your pearly whites pressed into your plump lip - drinking in every tear, blush and sniffle in between.

Suddenly the scene from earlier flashed behind your eyes, for a moment fear welled up in your chest, but then you felt Narumi’s consistent prodding that brought you right back to reality. Carding your fingers through his hair as you crashed your lips into his, desperately kissing him - trying to feel him fully. When you parted, he could see your teary sniffles had transformed into soft whines with each thrust - a reminder that he was really here. With you. His cock twitched approvingly within your heated core while his amaranth eyes drank in your puffy, tear stained cheeks. Narumi couldn’t quite put his finger on why, but seeing you like this threatened what little bit of control he had left.

“Gen,” his name encased in your tiny mewl brought his gaze to yours, catching sight of your quivering lip along the way. “Please don’t leave me…” whimpering pitifully while staving off a sob as your vision blurred from more tears. Then, you felt the gentlest caress along your hairline, Narumi’s ardent thrusts unfaltering through your near constant tears.

”I’m here,” he whispered, breath fanning your hair and forehead as he traced his nose along your hairline until he brought his lips to hover over yours. Blinking away your tears, you met his tender gaze as his hand moved from behind your back to lay over your lower abdomen. Pressing down lightly so that spongy spot was snug against his tip in a way that caused the corners of your vision to fuzz and whiten - pleasure mounting in every fiber of your being. 

”I'm right here,” he breathed against your lips, punctuating his assurance with a deep thrust that kissed your cervix and had your head keening back into the pillows with a pathetic mewl. Narumi’s consistent pace tightened that string in your core as if you were ascending the first hill on a roller coaster. With each press or slight rub of his hand on your abdomen, accompanied by his tip repeatedly knocking that spongy spot before dragging along your sensitive walls felt like the tick tick tick as you approached the crest of the hill. Then, just in the same way as an amusement park ride, he pressed a little harder, thrusted slightly deeper causing time to still as you felt that string grow impossibly taut and then snaaaap in slow motion.

Once the last thread broke, it felt like you were launched down that hill at top speed - a current of trembling pleasure shot through your muscles, leaving them strung tight. Your back arched off the couch while clinging onto Narumi however you could as he chased his own high, enhancing your’s along the way. Clawing at his back and shoulders, you were wracked with stuttered sobs while you begged him not to stop which soon devolved into unintelligible babbling as you sniffled and whined into his neck.

“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” he whispered into your hair followed by gently pressing his lips to your temple. Silently he drank in the tiny mewls and sniffles emitting from you that caused his balls to tighten - his climax imminent. “Where do you want it baby?” His hushed tone was slightly more urgent as he fought off the urge to immediately cum the next time his tip kissed your cervix.

“Cum in me,” you whined back not even a second later, carding your fingers back into his hair while rolling your hips to meet his. When he hesitated with the quietest ‘uh’ falling from his lips, you gripped his two toned locks before pulling him back to meet your watery gaze. A slight notch formed in your brow and a downright begging look in your eyes as you susurrated up at him, “please Gen…”

Relenting with a strangled groan Narumi collapsed over you, wrapping one arm under your back to keep your hips flush to his. The other hand came up to card his fingers through your tresses while his thick cum filled you - swirling with your own to create a creamy ring around the base of his cock. A thin trickle dribbled down your thigh to the curve of your butt. 

After several minutes of silence, barring your damp breaths mingled between the two of you, he ever so slowly drew his hips back before immediately pressing back into your puffy walls - eliciting a wanton cry from you. Before you could ask what he was doing, Narumi began groaning quietly in your ear in rhythm with his hips.

“I love you Y/N,” his lips brushed your earlobe just as you registered the words, his tip pressing against your cervix once again. Grabbing at his side and bicep to ground yourself, you finally cracked your eyes open to see him peering down at you before pressing his forehead to yours - repeating the words in tune with his measured thrusts, “I love you.”

The room quickly filled with your whiny moans bouncing from wall to wall as Narumi fucked his cum deeper into you. Hot, balsamic breaths puffed over your cheeks and down your neck with each word he uttered. Your nails dug crescent shaped indents into his toned flesh as overstimulated tears mixed with your needy ones from earlier. For the final time tonight, Narumi’s faithful prodding spurred you to willingly leap over that ledge as you rolled your hips in tandem with his to descend into that euphoric abyss. With one last confession of his love, you clamped down - your puffy walls pulsing around him as his cock twitched to the same rhythm. 

Laying fully over you, Narumi wrapped his arms securely around you before rolling onto his side so you were wedged between his chest and the back of the couch. There the two of you laid for some time until the overstimulated tremors finally dissipated and you were able to relax fully into him. Gradually he slipped out of you with a muted groan - eliciting a pathetic whine from you - leaving you empty and wanting as you nestled closer to him for warmth. Silence ensued for several minutes as the two of you basked in the afterglow and processed the sudden change in your dynamic. Then, like a bell ringing through foggy air just as dawn started to break - you interrupted the silence with the faintest admission.

“I love you too Gen,” you whispered into the hardened planes of his chest stuttering his heartbeat and catching his breath in his throat. After a moment he released a sigh of relief before folding you flush to his chest, and then held you comfortingly in his arms as he buried his nose into your hair. Narumi’s foreign, spice market scent mingled with your highland fog-like fragrance until your shared redolence filled the room completely. No more words were necessary for now, just the unspoken sentiment shared on the breath passed between a pair of lungs. He was yours, and you were his.

Master List (I have no rights to these characters, the works they come from, or the art/screenshots/manga panels used in this post. Screenshots taken from pinterest, so if you know the creator please lmk! Divider is from @sweetmelodygraphics)

Taglist: lmk know if you want to be added

Inspiration: Between Two Lungs by Florence and the Machine for the 2nd to last line

[necrotic-nephilim]

ok but jayrosetim

bc rose did hit on tim and i can see her looking at how weird her bf is about tim and just be like

"so you want to rail that twink too?"

and then poor tim never knows peace again😔

OOOH. i like this a lot. also phrasing the absolute chaos that Rose pulled on Tim as her just hitting on him is so funny. bc the panel of Rose in Tim's bed, clearly wearing Robin panties will never leave my mind, she was unhinged about him. honestly in a very similar way to how Jason was too, now that you point it out. how have comics never addressed that-

think it's so funny if Rose tries to be Normal about Tim when she gets with Jason. bc she expects *that* to be a complicated can of worms she's not sticking her hand in, she knows too much about fucked up family dynamics. because she does really like Jason and wants to actually see where this relationship goes. Jason is the first person who hasn't tried to change something about Rose and seems to actually like her for who she is. she's not used to not having to change herself for people and it's a comfortable feeling to know he wants the ugly sides of her too. and Jason pointedly avoids conversations about Tim so she avoids it too. everyone's slept with everyone in the hero business, an old crush where she maybe went too far (she regrets nothing, only that she didn't go farther-) doesn't need to ruin this thing she has.

but then she and Jason actually run into Tim and Jason is *weird*, but he's not "cain instinct" weird. he's more "flowers in the attic" weird. and hey, she's *into it*. Tim does not seem into it, but her mind is already concocting plans of how to talk him into it. bc it didn't work when it was just her, but her and Jason on a united front? absolutely. like, for me i'd love leaning into this ship being outright dubcon and coercive in nature. the minute Jason and Rose are alone she takes one look at him and says the above and Jason is clocked both by how forward she is about it, and by *the fact she wants to rail him too*. because now this guilty obsession/crush he's been hiding feels a *lot* less guilty.

something about Rose and Jason trying to pull Tim on their side, both in a vigilante way and in a romantic way is so fun. it's "be my Robin" and Rose getting into Tim's bed naked but dialed up to eleven. Tim does not know peace. i'd love fucked up shit like leaving dead bodies as courting presents at his doorstep. putting a tracker on him but *also* giving him the coordinates to trackers they're both wearing bc hey, this is a show of *trust*, Tim. see, it's not weird bc now it's equal. you have us, we have you. fair. making sexual comments about him, sending him outright videos of them fucking and saying his name. the more Tim tries to push it away the more they up the ante. instead of videos, they just break into Tim's home to fuck in his bed and either he walks in on them or comes home to the obvious evidence of sex. they corner him on nearly every patrol he goes on, forcing him to get rescued by them in scenarios they clearly orchestrated. by the time Tim gives in it's bc he has no other options and he's been love-bombed by them so hard he's starting to believe all these promises about how they're the only ones who *get* him and that he'd be loved and taken care of.

the first time they have sex they nearly break Tim in half. Rose and Jason are secure in their own relationship but they've both been waiting for Tim for so long that they're nearly clawing at each other to touch him and fighting over who gets the "firsts" like, first to kiss him, first to ride him, first to fuck him. Tim makes the mistake of trying to get in the middle of it and ends up catching a few punches and is sternly told he's not a part of this conversation. it's objectifying and a little humiliating and by the end of the sex Tim is in *pieces*, a little bloody and so fucked out he can barely move. he realizes that if sex is like *this* every time, he's basically doomed. and he is, bc Jason and Rose are never going to be normal about him now that they have him. they're just going to claw for more and more control until they're the only people who matter to him.

[hawkinsquarry]

❝  please don’t go—  i need.  i need someone—  i need you.  ❞ and ❝  it doesn’t have to mean anything,  i just don’t wanna feel lonely tonight. and i want to feel good for once.  ❞ is making me feel things. honestly needy steve begging to not be lonely sounds lovely but either way ❤️

how could i say goodbye? - steve x gn!reader

no pronouns for reader used; fluff, angst; hurt/comfort; sharing a bed; friends to lovers; love confessions; steve cry :(; brief mention of p*rn section at fam video but nothing in depth!

You’ve seen Steve like this before. Beaten up, bruised, a bit bloody. You’ve seen him wear the scars after. Borrowing Robin’s concealer for a cut lip and making up lies about being a klutz. You’ve bandaged him up, grabbed an ice pack and a handful of ibuprofen and sat them down on his bedside table, taking in his sleeping face before shutting off the light and going home.

This time, he’s scared. Everyone is. The world’s up in smoke and fire and tens of people are missing or dead. You’d wrung your hands the entire walk to Steve’s at 2 am, just as big military vehicles are pulling in. You couldn’t sleep, not knowing what’s become of him, and you’re relieved when his big, dumb house is in view, intact. A warm light on in his bedroom window. His car in the driveway, his dad’s car not.

Steve’s terrified when he opens the door, but his features soften immediately. His shirt’s off. You notice the lacerations on his torso immediately, but Steve’s pulling you in and locking the door before you can ask.

“Did you walk here?” is the first thing he says. You shrug, and he sighs loudly before wrapping you up in his arms. He smells like earth. “I’m sorry I didn’t call.”

“Lines are down anyway,” you mumble into his shoulder, trying not to kiss the skin as much as you want to. “What happened?”

He sighs again. “Not an earthquake.”

“I know.”

“Guess you could tell I needed a nurse, huh?”

You don’t think it’s very funny, but you lead him to the bathroom, picking out the first aid kit you’d last restocked in July. “Think you’ll need to lay down,” you say, gently kicking the cabinet under the sink shut. “Bedroom.”

You work gently and diligently on his stomach. He’d sworn to you it was already disinfected by the same people who partially cleaned him up after Starcourt. You still apply alcohol, much to his dismay. But even when he’s wincing, he’s quiet. Steve’s not known to be quiet. Your anxiety nearly gets the best of you, almost screaming at him when you ask again, “What happened?”

He stares at you for a long time, brown eyes starting to wet. “Not tonight,” he says.

“Robin?”

“She’s alive, too. Almost -“ and he takes a deep breath, pauses when you dab some more isopropyl on his spent skin. “Eddie.” It’s all he says. You bite at your cheek. You didn’t know Eddie well, and you’ve still got a lot of questions - but it’s a confirmation that those you know who usually get into these kinds of messes are okay.

You’re not unaware of the pointed use of the word alive and not okay. He was okay after 1984, and okay again after 1985, but 1986 only brings the word alive.

You use gauze to wrap the cuts on his stomach before taking another once over of him. He’s still so beautiful, even caked with mud and dirt and some weird thick gross slime that he’d only moaned a little don’t ask about. “Your neck,” you whisper, brows furrowing.

He nods a bit. “Hurts.”

You disinfect it, too, gently dabbing him with a cotton pad. “Hurts to swallow? To talk?”

“Mhm.”

“That’s okay,” you soothe, “I’ll stop askin’ questions now.”

“Don’t,” he whispers, suddenly grabbing your wrist. “Keep talking. Please.”

You swallow and nod before continuing your work. “My house is fine. It looks most bad in downtown - I guess you already know that? The phone lines - I said that already. Guess what I did today?”

A hint of a smile. He shrugs a shoulder.

“I finally checked out the porn section at Family Video.”

His smile grows.

“Which I guess was really good timing. But Keith was there - something about how his employees didn’t show up? Do you know anything about that?”

“Nothing,” he mouths.

“I didn’t rent anything,” you continue, “I just wanted to look. And I guess - I guess I just wanted to see you, too.”

His big eyes get all soft again. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry.” You dab away the last remnants of blood from his neck and pull back to throw the cotton pad in the trash. “Shouldn’t apologize for saving the world.”

You’re prepping a band aid for a cut on his head when he whispers, “We didn’t this time.”

You look back at him in a little bit of shock. Yes, the things always come back. But he’s never come back and said “yeah, we really dropped the ball this time.” He’s always been relatively confident, giving it “an eighty to eighty-five percent chance” that this was the last time.

“Zero percent,” he says, like he’s reading your mind. “We didn’t.”

“Let’s worry about that tomorrow, okay? I saw those big government vehicles - they’ll help.”

He makes a face that tells you everything. They won’t. They don’t know how.

“I’m sorry,” you say, leaning back towards him and resting your hands on his chest.

You see his adam’s apple bob. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it safe for you.”

Steve has never cried before in front of you. He’s gotten close, but just walked away, pinching his nose and coming back a few minutes later like nothing ever happened. But now, he’s crying. It’s soft, a few tears riding down his cheeks.

“Steve.” Your voice cracks. “None of this is your fault. None of it. You can’t save the world. I’m - I’m so happy you’re safe.” You press your tongue to the roof of your mouth, trying to fight off a sob. “I’m just glad you came home.”

He closes his eyes and bites his lip. You move away with your kit, placing it on his desk before moving back to him. You push his hair out of his face softly. “Get some sleep. Okay?”

Steve’s eyes shoot open and he looks scared again. Panicked. He shakes his head and grabs your hands, pulling you into him so far that you almost trip and fall on top of him. “Please don’t go. I need - I need someone. I need you.”

Your heart jumps up to your throat and you swallow thickly. He’s never asked you for this before. And he’s genuine - his eyes are wild and still wet and he looks so, so scared. Scared of losing you.

“Okay,” you whisper. “I’ll get some blankets and -“

“Here,” he says, tugging you in again. “I - look, I know. But it doesn’t have to mean anything. I just don’t wanna feel lonely tonight. I want to feel good for once. I - goddammit. I want you. Please.”

I want you. It rings in your head. I want you.

You move to the other side of the bed and slide under the covers, cuddling up close to him. Steve turns onto his side as best as he can - you’d chosen his good side to lay beside. You wrap him in your arms as he rests his head on your chest. His grip on you is tight and it has to hurt. His muscles have to be screaming at him to stop and rest. But he holds you like you might get taken, too, along with all the others.

And he cries. You feel the tears soaking through your shirt. He tries his best not to make any noise, but he still sniffles and clears his throat. You rake your hand through his hair and hold him as tight as you can, too.

“Steve,” you whisper. “I love you. I just - I had to say it.”

There’s a pause, a shaky breath, before he pushes himself up to kiss you. It’s small and otherwise insignificant, but warm and sweet and what you’ve wanted for years. You’re surprised when he pulls back, but you melt as he whispers, “I love you, too.”

He settles into your chest again, and you resume combing his hair, heart pounding. “I’m here. Okay? I’ll take care of you. Just rest. I love you.”

He sighs and relaxes. “I love you, too.”

[tamhi21]

Stumbled upon a reel on Instagram with a video of two famous cars on the same parking lot.

My friend laughed and said "I want to know where this is".

So I did the only logical thing I could have done and answered with another screenshot :

We laughed hard and then tried to imagine the context.

So. Picture this :

🐍 *approaches the other's table* Nice car.

🍺 Thanks. It's not mine though, I borrowed it.

🐍 Oh, we borrow things now ? What a letdown. *Sits down* During my Time, we would have stolen that car and driven anyone with a similar model to launch themselves off a cliff. You know, to add a bit of flurry. *Sighs* Downstairs really needs to up its game.

🍺 Now if you must know, I actually killed the previous owner. It was extremely bloody and painfully slow.

🐍 I see.

🍺 I chose this model because one of my... acquaintances... has the same one. To lure them here. *Moves his hand in a dismissal way* You get the idea.

🐍 Funny you should say that. I heard a hilarious little rumour just this morning.

🍺 Is that so ?

🐍 Hm.

*both drink in complete silence for a while*

🐍 So... A ghost-dinosaur haunting a public library, huh?

🍺 Can't believe those two idiots fell for that.

🐍 Tell me about it. If the hippy gang and their service dog are here too, everyone should know it's a hoax.

🍺 Cheers, mate. To humanity and their simple mind. So easy to fool.

🐍 Cheers to that.

*both glance through the window, noticing a ruckus across the street*

🍺Well, apparently not everyone.

*Outside, the Winchesters and the Scooby gang bicker about who is going to have the right to stay in the library tonight. Fred "We got here first!" And Dean "WE have weapons, you're just a bunch of high-as-f*ck roadtripping dumbasses!"*

🍺What did I say, idiots. All of them.

*Aziraphale suddenly pops in and interrupts the conversation saying that as a Bookshop owner, HE gets to stay in the library because he needs to protect the Books if Downstairs really set up an evil plan. Moreover, he is actually the most qualified to deal with dinosaurs seeing that he was already around when they were created and honestly, some humans should know better and step back when Evil forces are involved, especially if it concerns the Apocalypse. Or any type of extinct or out-of-this-world animal.*

🐍 Wait, that's my idiot ! *runs outside*

🍺 *sighs* Idiots, all of them.

[aceofwhump]

Hi ace ☺️!!!!! My fav trope is forced to watch/listen (especially if they are in the same room and whumper does nothing to the caretaker but keep asking them to reveal their secrets if they want it to stop 😏) but I cant find nearly enough of this trope

So if you know any media with this trope in it can you share ?🥰

(Also it has nothing to do with the ask but whenever I think of people outside of tumblr I imagine them with their pfp so your face is aaron in my mind sk3kdkdk 😅)

Mmmm yes that is a very good trope and yes it's also hard to find. Sometimes it pops up in fanfiction but off hand I can't think of any (I read so many it's hard to remember sometimes and I haven't updated my masterlist in a little while with tropes). Let me see what I got to rec.

My immediate thought was Chicago P.D. 3x01 when the team watches via video while Jay Halstead is beaten and tortured.

Hawaii Five-0 10x22 Steve is forced to watch a beaten and bloodied Danny through a video sent to him.

There's also this scene in Red Notice where the Rock and Ryan Reynolds are tied up and The Rock's character is tortured.

In Iron Man 3 Tony is forced to watch as Pepper is injected with Extremis

The Following 2x07 has a scene where Mike Weston is forced to watch

Stargate Atlantis 3x07 John is tortured and a video of it is shown to the team.

Stargate SG-1 5x07 Danny is forced to watch Jack be tortured

Legends of Tomorrow 1x05 Mike and Ray are tortured in front of Stein.

Arrow 1x18 Roy is tortured in front of the others via video.

Killjoys 1x05 D'Avin is tortured and Johnny watches the video

Graceland 1x08 Mike Warren is forced to watch and participate in torturing someone.

Falling Skies 5x05 has a great listening scene

Avengers Infinity War Loki watches as Thor gets tortured

Teen Wolf 3x04 Derek is tortured by the Alpha pack while his sister Cora has to watch

A Discovery of Witches 3x06 Matthew is tortured in front of Diana

Hudson & Rex 3x09 when Charlie is buried alive and the team is shown him via live video

Sense8 2x11 (finale) when Wolfgang is captured and tortured

NCIS 3x08 when Tony gets beaten in front of Ziva and NCIS 7x01

9-1-1 5x17 when Chim is tortured in front of Hen

Also, to your last point, that's so funny and I honestly do the same thing and I'm honored to be seen as just Aaron Tveit running this blog lol.

[ingravinoveritas]

David Tennant stroking another man’s hair, flirting with Alex Brooker, singing about a vibrator, wearing that wig and dancing and swinging his hips like that and finally, MICHAEL SHEEN MENTION. Bragging about being above Michael in the Dilf list like a little brat like WOW he’s about to get his ass spanked tonight

I am honestly so living for David bringing out his bratty bottom side, which I feel like is a side we don't get to see nearly often enough...

(Also, for those who haven't seen the full video of David's appearance on TLL, you can watch it on Youtube here.)

I know the moment in the gif above is supposed to be him as Gwyneth Paltrow, but all I was getting was campy, bisexual British Kurt Cobain, right down to the jumper (which oddly does look like something Kurt would've worn in the grunge era). And we can't remotely overlook the fact that David was wearing rainbow/pride gear from head to toe tonight, from the rainbow buttons on his shirt (you can see them under the jumper) to the Tardis trans pride flag pin all the way down to his rainbow socks...

And then, of course, there was the Michael mention. At this point, it honestly feels like whatever is happening between them is a big open secret (at the very least, I have a strong feeling the host Adam knows, and probably also Josh Widdicome), because it is impossible anymore to have one on as a guest without bringing up the other. In this case, it almost felt like the DILF of the Year competition was another excuse to mention Michael, and then to see David fully preening over outranking him was just...beyond glorious.

As to the aforementioned spanking, I fully concur with you. There's something in particular about this show, knowing that it was filmed live, and it's almost as if David behaved as bratty as he did because he knew a certain Welshman would be watching (giving very similar vibes to when David was on the Late Late Show in 2021). I can already so clearly picture the exchange between them after this (hopefully immediately after, since Michael is still in London and David could readily have gone to see him once the taping ended)...

"I'm more DILFy--DILFy, is that a word? Hmm--than you, Michael. According to the Internet people, that is." "Mmh. Yes, the all-wise, all-knowing Internet people." "You don't agree?" "Brat." "Ah, but you love me." "Don't think I could stop if I wanted to." "So you don't mind that the Internet thinks I'm more of a DILF than you?" "I think I'm the one who gets to fuck you, so the Internet can get bloody stuffed." "Funny, I was rather hoping I'd get stuffed right about now." "Cheeky slag. Turn around and take your trousers off." "You're so easy, Michael." "Shut up, Dai."

So yes, David's appearance on The Last Leg tonight was certainly quite something. I truly love seeing that part of him come alive, the part that he once spoke of in an interview where he talked about being a little boy and putting a towel on his head to entertain his classmates. I think deep inside, David has never stopped being that little boy, and there is something so special about seeing that part of him getting to be free.

Definitely hoping as well that we might get to see/hear Michael's reaction to all of this, but he still seems a bit quiet on Twitter these days (and if he's busy spending long nights with David, one can hardly blame him). I suppose we'll just have to see what happens...

[lets-try-some-writing]

Oooh, can we get a directory’s commentary on the Blind Starscream AU and the Starscream Knitting AU? I know they are small AUs, but I enjoy rereading them from time to time. Plus they involve my favorite (troubled) Seeker. Also maybe one for Broken Record too because that one was just so gosh darn good! Please and Thank you!

I got you! I love giving my thoughts on the writing! Also I seriously adore the Starscream knitting AU and I have fun with the Blind Starscream AU too. I just ran out of ways to continue them. Any ideas for them would be gladly accepted :3

Blind Starscream

It was born of a request, and honestly I wasn't the most enthused with it because I had no plot to give the AU. It was a concept game rather than a story for me. Not a bad thing from time to time, but I like having a story to follow to write for. However with that said, it is a fun one and I recall having a great time thinking about how frickin funny it must be to watch Optimus yeet water at Screamer because he's scared of the bugger.

Extra tidbit about this AU: Starscream actually thinks its super funny to pretend he can see, but ONLY around ST3V3 the Vehicon. Starscream will act as though he can see perfectly and stare with lightless optics right into the Vehicon's visor. ST3V3 is terrified, but not a spark believes him when he says Starscream can see and absolutely can end their lives. Well, they believe the second part, but most don't question Starscream's blindness.

Starscream Knitting

It has been a VERY long time since I last looked at this AU. I hardly remember where it began, but I know it was made when I still didn't know how to format anything in visually pleasing and rational way. I don't go back and read my old work for a reason. (lll￢ω￢)

That said, I have had one image in my head since I learned about how running a small business works. Starscream, with stupidly colorful packaging, slowly and carefully getting every package done with his giant frickin claws. Oh! And those nails are absolutely manicured so that he can take videos and pretend he's just a really stylish knitter. He will never admit he enjoys his claws being painted a vivid red.

He secretly watches manicure videos online and asks Knockout to do him up every now and then.

Broken Record

Oh boy. The emotions were STRONG with this fic. It was the week before midterms and I was STRESSING. So of course I gave my baby some trauma to make me feel better. I was actually at work most of the time while writing Broken Record. I listened to City of the Dead on repeat the whole bloody time because it set the mood. No escape. No victory. No hope. Only loss.

Tidbit about Smokey in this fic: He did absolutely everything under the sun to make things work, and while not shown super closely in the fic because I enjoy being somewhat sane, he had a DEEP relationship with the team. He came to see Arcee as a sister in a sense. He adored her and looked up to her for many long loops before he had to pull away and then grew to see how badly her grief was hurting her. He wasn't the closest with Bulkhead and Wheeljack, but he shared many long nights alongside them, talking about the slightly happier aspects of war. Bumblebee he saw as a brother and eventually a ward as time dragged on. As he matured, he felt the need to watch over the scout, just as Optimus did. This was never fully expressed in the fic, but if given the chance, Smokescreen would take up a parental mantle if only to honor the fallen. He was especially close with Ratchet, that with the medic being the closest mech he ever had to a father.

Surprising right? You would think he's see Optimus that way. However he can't see Optimus like that. In his optics, Optimus is like a ghost. He learns from the mech, but Optimus is a strange thing for Smokescreen. A living dead mech. As much as Smokescreen bonded to the Prime, it was all a very solemn thing. But him and Ratchet? He loves Ratchet as a son would his father. Ratchet was always there for him, always offering comfort instead of the cold conformation of loss that Optimus gave. I didn't have enough time to write it, but I really wanted a scene where Ratchet tucked Smokescreen in after a long day and even managed to get the truth from him. I wanted to write one loop where Ratchet knew, and all he could do was hold Smokescreen's servo and weep as the loop came to an end.

Another tidbit: I fully intend to write a prequel with Orion and his trial. And let me tell you, what I have envisioned is ROUGH. It will take me a hot minute to write I think, simply because writing Broken Record required me to have a VERY off mental state to make it happen. However when I write it, let me say now that Orion Pax will have no frame of reference and do far worse things than Smokescreen in an attempt to get out. There could have been other ways to get out, but after so long? He just wanted to be free, no matter the harm it caused to Megatron at the Council chambers.

[strangerhawke]

chosen names are so weird because honestly for the longest time i’ve never really felt connected to any name. all the names i chose were because of a feeling - but not a real one. a feeling of ‘who i want to be’ as opposed to who i am. i don’t know who i am, so how could i possibly put a name to it?

Cee was just a way to cut off my birthname, like cauterising a wound. but it felt like being left with the bloody mess to deal with.

Zeke represented ‘the opposite’. i look like a woman, but my name is masculine - therefore people will think twice about misgendering me. they never did. always she. didn’t even seem to clock to them that it meant something more. Zeke became a placeholder - a ‘waiting until you notice’ name. a passive name. enough to make people look twice, but not enough to prompt a conversation about it.

so i tried something else. at first i was Ziggy - a nickname a friend used for me. i liked Z’s, and the name felt bouncy and flexible. it felt like that a carefree person would have, someone whimsical who could go with the flow. and in moments of panic and frustration and hatred and anger, i felt like a clown. the name became a brand for Kooky Nonbinary Person and it felt like i was humiliating myself on purpose. a name that was too ‘silly’ for people to respect. for my family to laugh about.

all in my head, obviously. no one ever said a word to me about the name while i had it. but my own mind conjured up this false audience who chipped away at each and every detail. (probably spent too much time on twitter)

then it was Zag. video game character name. my brain being drawn to this name felt like the teenager inside of me trying to get out. but Zagreus is strong, funny, witty, kind - things i longed to be. and Z is my favourite letter, so. bonus.

Zag fell apart in the same way as Ziggy did; although mainly it felt as though i was using the name as a caricature - implying i was all of those things when i wasn’t. i was just a sad depressed person who didn’t really leave the house.

and then i played omori.

a game about a sad depressed person who doesn’t leave the house.

a person who feels like a blank slate, waiting for other people to write on them. and his name was Sunny. it could be any name, of course - it’s a video game. but the default name is sunny. and seeing this bright vibrant name that implied such joy, such warmth, such light beside a black and white neutral face was such a wonderful contrast. the idea that my name didn’t have to correspond to who i am, or could in fact be the opposite in a way that was pleasing as opposed to debilitating - was wonderful to me. and though i initially held off on using it - it didn’t begin with Z, and this bothered me greatly - i gave it a shot. and found that while it didn’t ‘fit’ in the way chosen names seemed to for so many other people, it wasn’t an idea, or a feeling. it was a name.

and it feels like i’ve grown into that name as opposed to it fitting to me. the person i couldn’t see before is there in my reflection. it’s murky but it’s there. when i see my name i know it’s me.

my family still calls me zeke, or my birthname, but it doesn’t matter as much as it used to. zeke became a title to my nieces, and has the feeling of a family nickname to it.

the other names are just lines in the sand washed away by the sea. moments of me that tried to be, and couldn’t.

but i’m trying to be sunny for as long as i can. i don’t expect to change it again, but i don’t expect it not to. expecting anything leads to disappointment.

names aren’t ideas, or concepts, or who you want to be - they’re you. they’re just you.

[dumbfinntales]

Yesterday night I finally beat Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga. What a hell of a ride. Not super long either, took me like 18 hours to beat. What a proper way to start off this year with game reviews, right?

Superstar Saga is such a joyful, funny and charming game filled with entertaining characters. The sense of humor was on point and I could immediately see where Brothership got its style. I very much enjoyed the more "open world" exploration than island exploration. You have a map that you can traverse freely and you can enter new places as you gain new abilities.

This game being the first in the series the battle system is a bit more simple, but the basics were there. You got your jumps, hammers and bros moves. I like that the bros moves are literally you and Luigi working together to attack enemies. Oh, and you got the hand moves as well, which was a neat surprise. I felt that dodging was a bit iffy at times, some enemy attacks felt impossible to avoid. I still have no idea how to avoid that Fawful attack where he flies at you. I managed to knock him away once when I hit immediately after I heard the sound cue, but I tried it again and nothing, still got hit. Doesn't help that he fucking kills you if you don't manage to interrupt him.

Much like Brothership the game was so charming. Every character was unique and fun, plus I was so surprised to see E. Gadd in this game, accompanied by the Luigis Mansion theme. I honestly didn't care much for Cackletta, she was alright, but didn't feel like there were many stand out moments with her. She felt like a very typical bad guy. Fawful was fun for his strange speech pattern and how chaotic he was. Why did he have to wear a skin tight suit in our final battle? He sure has fury. Can't wait to see him as the main villain in Bowsers Inside Story.

I do adore this game, but I always find things to complain about. Number one, I would have appreciated a real map. The in game one doesn't show you anything. Some dungeons have maps, but they're plastered on walls and you can't view them when you want. And I HATED the mini games. Oh how I loathed them, starting with that infernal border jump at the beginning of the game. The only mini games I tolerated were the minecart one and the arcade game. I also kinda hated platforming with Luigi. This might be controversial, but I'm glad he became automatic in Brothership. No more one of the bros falling down a platform so now you can't move and have to go back to the start of the platforming.

This isn't a negative per se, but made me really scratch my head. But the end of the game is really bloody difficult, right? I had no trouble with the game until the final dungeon where the difficulty skyrockets. I didn't have too much trouble with the koopalings (their mini games too sucked ass), but holy hell Fawful and Cackletta kicked my ass. Fawful took me like 4 tries to beat, and Cackletta 9 tries at least. She has SO much HP and two phases where at the start of phase 2 you can die immediately, which I did, thanks spinny arms move. It felt like the opposite of Brothership where the final boss was a bit of a pushover. Didn't help that apparently I was underpowered? I watched videos on how people beat Cackletta and they were doing 100+ damage per attack, while my strongest bros moves did a maximum of 60 damage. I also found out that I missed some sidequests and gear!

I didn't brew all the coffees at E. Gadds cafe place, mostly because I hated getting the rare beans from the mini games, but I did brew most of them. But either way, it was a fun experience. Maybe one day if I'll replay the game I could give the 3DS remake a try.

[haechanhues]

GMMTV 2025

Girl Rules - OKAY I am into it <3 Love the whole aesthetic first of all and seconds in and I'm already wanting to watch it. I also just really love MilkLove.

Ticket To Heaven - Aesthetics remind me a little of a Jeff Satur music video but FourthGem and I'm already invested. They're so bloody handsome I can't deal with it. Also feels really raw for this couple so I'm excited to see where it goes.

Only Friends : Dream On - I feel like I'm cheating watching this trailer without seeing Only Friends yet. Can't wait for the mess though (and Ohm's in here, I didn't finish watching Kidnap just cause i wasn't feeling it but I do wanna see them in this) Also NEO?! (Boston, in this case)

Wu - I'm absolutely loving the supernatural elements of this upcoming drama. The music during the ending sounds very Marvel though so it gave me a little chuckling power.

Me and Thee - PondPhuwin! Did Pond cut his hair? Something feels different and I'm pretty sure it's that. OMG PERTH?!?! Fucking wait, sorry?! I've just seen my baby. It's quite funny though, little bit of crack. Also very familiar music at the end? (Where have I heard it before?)

That Summer - First man on the screen Winny <3 Omg Mond and Neo too. Oh yes, WinnySatang main couple I'm looking forward to it. You have no idea how much I adore them. Like really. Is Mond acting as Winny's uncle?!

Boys In Love - Well he's a new face to me... I think? He's got nice lips (sorry I can't think of anything else but kind of reminds me of like Felix + Kento Yamazaki mixed together)....Aww it is very cute though, kind of fluttery. But I think the KimMon couple with Chokun and Aston is the couple I'm most excited for.

Burnout Syndrome - First of all, sick title. Also Gun? AND IS THAT DEW?! WHAT THE HELL I was not expecting him I feel like I haven't seen him in years. OffGun <3 Dew once again, playing the morally good (?) homewrecker.

Cat For Cash - FIRSTKHAOTUNG! Is that View's voice? Weird but I'm oddly intrigued, won't be the weirdest shit I'll watch and purely cause the couple-Satang again?! Sweet sounding OST.

Dare You To Death - I'm really excited to see Drake in this. Not really feeling the couple though but this is just the teaser. I'm more into the mystery thriller side of this drama rather than the romantic side, but I can definitely be persuaded.

Love you teacher - PERTH! I love him so much. It's quite cute - following his boyfriend to teach. CAR CRASH? Amnesia i'm guessing....didn't have to guess long. AH KAY! You have no idea how much power this man has over me. I am such a Perth girl it's honestly unreal. Established relationship also?

A Dog and A Plane - Tay and Marc? HELLO. God. Just exposing my faves in this post really. Not really interested in the drama at all though.

My Romance Scammer - This guy reminds me of Byungchan or Junkyu and another reminds me of a smaller Song Kang. Was gonna say not interested but now with that twist in there I'm a lot more interested.

My Magic Prophecy - Oooh Jimmy should be in his element. Will probably really only watch this for Jimmy. But I really do like the supernatural element in this.

MU-TE-LOVE - PRIMILY my girl <3 There's a lot of fortune related dramas I see. Dew, player. Is that Jamie from Home School? I can't tell. ONE OF THE TWINS. NEO AS A DRAG QUEEN HELLO. As this teaser goes on, it gets more random but also so interesting and like oddly unrelated. No, but Ohm's new man is so attractive.

Whale Store xoxo - MILKLOVE. I am not as interested in it as I am Girl Rules. But I do think it's cute. Very small town romance cute. Ending song also cute.

I Love 'A Lot Of' You - ....C'mon. Nanon's in here. But like what the hell is happening? OHH okay five personalities/alters and making them all fall in love with him. Nanon always tends to pick really good fucking scripts that interest me. I'd love if only four of them really loved him and then the other one has no interest in him.

Head 2 Head - I'm loving the banter. ALSO TWIST? I'm also interested in the side couple too.

Melody of Secrets - I'm interested in this horror/thriller/mystery thing and Force is cool. I feel like I'm watching one of ENHYPEN's highlight reel things. Book has really pretty eyes.

[roseofithaca]

Second Chance at Goodbye (Part 1)

(Story about my oc trying to find closure. Ft @idiotwithanipad 's oc Amy)

-

"HAPPY SAM-HAN!"

Silver blinked at them all; "Happy what-now?"

"Sam-han! Isn't that right?" Alison asks, "The Wiccan name for Halloween?"

The Neo-Pagan stifled a laugh as she stood in Higham Suite, having just woken up from another of her month long sleeps at the rise of the full moon. Both Amy and Robin had been chilling beside her bed, acting cool as cucumbers, waiting for her to rise. They'd made the most basic of small talk with her as they'd headed back to the hotel, only for the rest of the ghosts - plus a greying Alison - to jump out in a cheer as she walked through the door.

The room was decked to the nines in fake skulls strung up like Christmas tinsle, tiny pumpkins a lit on the windowsill as well as a big one on the table, along with scary movie posters stuck to the walls. Alison wore a Morticia Addams costume which Thomas seemed to be appreciating out the corner of his eye a little too much.

"Guys, thanks, this is incredible. But just so you know, it's pronounced 'Sow-wen'." Silver giggled, "Robin, you know that."

"Yes, but it funny watching them get it wrong." The caveman said, cheekily. Amy gave him a light kick to his boots.

"Other than that, thanks, this is so fucking cool!" Silver grinned before going around the room to inspect everything.

Kitty was very eager to show her the fake severed limbs that Alison had skillfully made our of paper machet, piled up in the corner.

It was rare that she got to be awake for her favourite Sabbat, cliché as she knew it was. What Witch or Pagan didn't love Halloween? Most of the time, Alison and the ghosts did a party for her before or after but it felt extra special to be awake for the actual day. The New Year on the Wiccan calender.

"Kinda bummed we can't wear costumes. Stupid ghost bodies." Amy tutted, picking at her hoodie.

"Well, we can play What Would I Wear Today - Halloween Edition!" Pat suggested.

That kicked off the games for the night, while Alison put out some little Halloween cakes she'd baked for Robin and Amy to sniff and some of the others just to eat with their eyes, as it were.

Silver had sadly missed the rare ghost ability to smell food and drink and most other things - except for incense, which Alison lit for her pleasure, filling the room with various scents until it smelled like a New Age store.

"I suppose I would dress up as a member of the enemy. A Jap or a Jerry, I wouldn't need to change much except for the badge." Cap said when it came to his turn.

"Oh, that's really, really not a good idea." Alison dissuaded.

"Yeah, didn't a Prince get in big trouble for doing that once? Harry, weren't it?" Amy frowned.

"Little Prince Harry? No fucking way!" Silver gasped, not having seen anything of the royal family since watching live footage of Princess Di's funeral. "Bloody rich people. Full offense, Julian."

"I guess I would dress up as a member of the Green Party then." The disgraced MP said, rubbing his knees.

"Isn't your daughter a member of the Green Party?" Mentioned Fanny.

"And as a loving father, I have never held that against her!"

They continued around the group, Thomas choosing Byron, Pat as a member of Bradford City FC, Fanny as an Australian convict, Humphrey as a member of the Queen's guard, Robin as a bear, Amy as a character from a video game that was after Silver's time, while she herself went with one of the nurses from Silent Hill.

"Ooh, sexy nurse, classic."

"Definitely not sexy and also shut the fuck up, Julian." Silver sneered at him, though at this point she knew that most of his lewd comments were only to wind her up. Hopefully.

"I suppose I'd be a spider. Or could I be Spider-girl? Is there a Spider-Girl?" Kitty mused aloud.

"You guys do know you don't have to dress up as your greatest traumas right? Halloween is supposed to be fun." Silver informed them all after seeing a pattern.

It was honestly just a wonder to have them all participating, especially Fanny who often derided Halloween as a sinful heathen holiday.

"Mike's taking Mia trick-or-treating." Alison told Silver, showing her snaps of the father and daughter out dressed as zombies.

"Aww, that's adorable. I wish she'd come, feels like ages since I saw her, she's getting so big."

"They're gonna come by tomorrow. I wanted it to just be us guys tonight." Alison smiled, looking around the group.

"Hmm, not exactly child-appropriate, what you've got in mind, is it." Humphrey commented.

"Shh, you spoil surprise!" Robin hissed at the Tudor who was in one piece for a change.

"Another surprise?" Said Silver.

Were they going to watch some 18+ scary movies? Was Kitty desensitised enough for actual horror now?

"Was gonna leave it closer to midnight but I guess we can start now before everyone's too tired." Alison said, standing up and moving over to the table.

A small black cloth had covered something in the centre which Silver hadn't noticed until now. Robin gave her a nudge and gestured for her to go take a look.

She stood, curious now.

"Ta-da!"

Alison pulled the cloth away with a flourish. Silver felt the air leave her lungs. She stepped back.

"What the..."

She stared down at the rectacle ivory board covered with letters and numbers in jet black ink.

"It's a Ouija Board." Said Alison.

"T'is said to be a way to communicate with the dead." Thomas said, with a haunting lilt to his voice.

Silver narrowed her eyes at him; "I know what a Ouija Board is! Why is it here?" She gestured to Alison; "You're a walking Ouija Board! And anyway, we're already dead, so I don't-."

"It's not intended for us, Silver." Fanny told her, plainly. "It's to attempt to contact what's beyond...well, the beyond."

Beyond the beyond?

"You mean...?"

"The next layer, of course!" Kitty exclaimed, giddily; "I can't believe we haven't thought about it before, it's such a wonderful idea!"

"Well we did joke about it once or twice but given that whole experience with the Vicar and the exorcism-." Pat's words were cut off by Thomas and Humphrey shuddering at the memory; "...Yeah, I think we thought it best not to dabble, just to be on the safe side."

"So what changed? Why you guys so eager to 'dabble' tonight?" Asked Silver.

Everyone looked to the girl with the headphones standing next to Humphrey.

"Hey! Why you all making out like this was my idea?" Amy asked.

"Because it was your idea, Poppet." Said Humphrey.

"I...Okay, fine, shut up." Amy huffed and met her best friend's eyes; "I know you weren't keen on it when I asked about it before but, I just thought tonight might be a special night to try, if you wanted? You're always saying Witches believe the doorway between the living and dead to be thinner on Halloween. Maybe that's true for the doorway between the dead and the...deader dead. And if it doesn't work then, hey, what's it matter? We can have fun trying, can't we?"

"Amy, these things can be fun but they can also be extremely dangerous."

"Then it's a good thing we've got an actual Witch who knows her shit to make sure we do it right, ey!" The other teen said with a gentle thump to Silver's arm.

The young Pagan blushed, especially as the others in the room seemed to murmur in agreement.

"It's not like I'm Willow from Buffy or anything, but I guess I know more than...." Ugh, is she really going to agree to this? Just for a Halloween game? "Anyway, who would we even...?"

She knew the answer to that question before she finished asking. All eyes were on her. Eyes of sadness, perhaps a little pity, mixed with concern. This was her night. Her party. Her present.

Silver felt her chest tighten.

"I don't...I don't think I can..."

"You don't have to if you don't want to, pet. I mean we've all got folks you could help us contact instead if you'd like." Said Pat, sweetly; "I've got a great aunt who I'd love to see if I can get a Yorkshire pudding recipe from. Not that it's much good for me, but for Daley and Little Pat."

"My grandfather was said to have buried a chest of stolen gold on the moors, might be worth getting that info." Murmured Julian.

Even Humphrey threw his hat in; "Might give me some peace if you can let Sophie know there's no hard feelings-"

"Guys! Please." Alison shut them down. She looked to Silver; "It's your choice, hun. We know it's gonna be a while until you're awake for this time of year again, but I guess we can try any other day-."

"We could. But you're right. This is the most likely time to get results." She admitted.

"Harvest festival and Full Moonah." Grunted Robin in agreement; "Big big power."

Silver was a little bit surprised that he seemed on board with this. Usually, the caveman was the skeptical one, funnily enough.

"You think it will work? You've seen it done before?" She asked him.

"No. But, like Stompy say, no harm in try."

She could see in his ancient eyes, also, a tiny glimmer of hope that maybe...Just maybe...

He loved her too.

Silver shook her head; "Look, I just don't think it will work. I mean, when I used to research these things, all of them said you needed an item or a photo that belonged to the person to reach them. We don't even have a grave for Mary, let alone a photo or belongings-."

"Not exactly, no. But I wondered if maybe these might be okay?"

Alison lifted a handmade basket onto the table. Contained within was the sketch of Mary, recently redrawn to replace the previous one smashed and desecrated by vandals, who also set fire to Silver's bed...among other things. Bastards.

"I know they weren't from when she was really alive, but they are linked to her, in a way....?" The living woman suggested.

The eyes of the woman in the sketch met Silver's. She took a breath.

Could she...? Could she dare to hope that...?

"I...I can't..."

She turned and fled from the room before anyone could stop her. There was a dark closet nearby with her name on where she needed to hunker down and fucking breathe.

[extraneousdominomask]

What I did on my summer vacation

As you've no doubt gathered by now, for the last two years I've been playing various old games with my wife. I often used to post about that adventure here, and then I kinda stopped. I feel bad about that, especially when it comes to the two excellent, free indie games I had fully intended to spotlight. So here's a quick rundown!

Celeste, OJONMRAG, Double Cross

Three great indies I got in the same bundle. Celeste needs no introduction, and I've spoken about it before. I don't know if I ever mentioned Oh Jeez Oh No My Rabbits Are Gone!!!, but it's a fun puzzle game with cute visuals and surprisingly catchy music. And speaking of those two things, Double Cross is a hidden gem of a game. We really enjoyed its eclectic cast, and still sometimes quote the zany catgirl in particular. ("All cats are tyrants, Zahra.")

Manic Miners

Lego Rock Raiders was a toy line in the 1990s, which earned its own video game tie-in. I remember it fondly... as did one absolute hero, who remastered the dang thing as a non-profit passion project. Manic Miners is available via Itch for free - because it's a fan game! He had to ask very nicely to do this at all! - and it completely revitalizes what was an engaging but flawed fuzzy memory from my childhood. As well as adding several quality of life improvements to make the game flow better, cut content is restored and entirely new features are added in, such as a character creator. If you want an accessible game that can provide the sweet, sweet satisfaction of collecting every scrap of resources from a initially messy environment, I highly recommend this.

inFamous 2: Festival of Blood

An important thing to know about me is that I hate vampires. I don't like 'em and I don't like looking at 'em, so I usually avoid and and all vampiric media, even if they're getting slaughtered. For that reason, despite loving inFamous 2, I never checked out its DLC side-adventure Festival of Blood... until now. (Making a new purchase on the PS3 digital store was hard, but not impossible. Thanks for complaining every time they try to shut it down, everybody!) It's a short experience, but a lot of fun, thanks to the wise decision to let Zeke narrate the whole bullshit stor- I mean, thrilling tale of true heroism. I found Bloody Mary to be an entertainingly nasty villain, despite my biases.

Psychonauts 2

Psychonauts is one of the video games ever, no question. Expectations were lofty for its much-delayed sequel. If anything, I think I prefer this one! The core (the gameplay, visuals, hilarious writing, and Peter McConnell's consistently excellent music) all remain unchanged, with new mechanics, some quality of life improvements, and an impressive voice cast all added on top. Jack Black and Elijah Wood are both in this game, and they're both great!

Pokémon White

this one kinda sucked ngl

Halo: Combat Evolved

Mostly, I'm showing my wife a game and not the other way around. There was one major franchise that I had almost entirely missed, however - aside from a few free-form skirmishes at parties - that she fondly remembers. This summer, we both experienced the first Halo together, and in short: yeah, I can see why this changed the course of the industry singlehandedly. It still feels great to play, even with my wife assuring me that the sequel is a big improvement from these already solid bones. I frankly don't relish slaughtering the fleeing, crying Grunts, since we as a society have moved on considerably when it comes to the rights of funny little guys. But it feels great to shoot aleins and Cortana is my friend. Exactly as advertised.

Jak II: Renegade

this one definitely sucked, holy shit. I remember this being a good game. I remembered incorrectly.

Shantae (2002)

I've played two of the more recent Shantae games, and I found them charming. But how does the original hold up? Pretty well, honestly! It's far from perfect - the day and night cycle really adds nothing beyond referencing Castlevania - but the music and visuals are truly impressive for the original GameBoy. I'm gonna be thinking about Shantae's cute little 8-bit dances for a while.

Undertale Yellow

Like anyone who listens to a lot of Toby Fox's music over YouTube, I've seen my fair share of dubious OCs and "epic fights" floating at the corner of my vision. With that in mind, I went into UY with managed expectations, despite the positive buzz. Could a fangame really match the unique energy and charm of one of the greatest independent games of our generation?

Uh... yeah! I'm as surprised as anyone else, but everything from the music to the gameplay to the writing was really bang-on. It's not a flawless experience - the El Bailador fight needed reworking, it was WAY harder than other, more impactful fights - but the eight years of passion very much shine through. If you're a fan of UT/DR and need something to tide you over as we all wait for Chapters 3+, I fully recommend this. It's free!!!!

Spyro the Dragon (1998)

Finished this just yesterday! I got the remaster when it came out, but - no offense - nothing beats the blocky low-poly charm of the original. This was my first time replaying it in several years, and for the first time, it felt small. Levels I remember struggling with posed no challenge any more. But I think that only speaks to how many times I replayed this lovely little adventure. Also, did you know that of the, like, four voice actors in this game, one of them is Clancy goddamn Brown? He plays like 30 of these polygonal dragons!

...I would normally try to end a post this long on a more climactic note, but, uh... yeah.